BluePhone

Most people these days have houses full of digital gadgets and machines. From computers and laptops to mp3 players, televisions and gaming systems, Americans have a penchant for staying on the front edge of personal technology.

However, technology continues to move at a dizzying pace making products faster, smaller, more integrated and more efficient. To stay ahead of the curve, take a look at these product ideas given to us from Personal Tech Experts at BluePhone:

Mini Laptop - With enough processing power for most any kind of everyday use, and a small enough form factor to fit in many purses, mini laptops with screens from about seven to ten inches are a great option for people on the go, or looking for an ultra-sleek laptop computer. ASUS has been making the EEE-PC for a few years now, but has been making improvements that make them more and more viable as a true computer. Dell makes the Inspiron Mini 9, which has about the same form-factor as the EEE-PC, but comes backed by the well known Dell name. Neither one will hit the wallet very hard – both are about $300.Read more

Beware! New adware and malware threats are identified all the time, and even regular browsing can leave computers exposed. Here’s what to do

Most people have systems in place to protect their computers and vital information when they’re browsing the Internet. However, with new adware and malware threats identified regularly, any browsing can leave a computer exposed, especially if the user is unaware of what to look out for. Since adware and malware removal are more difficult than prevention, it makes sense to be educated and prevent a malware infection before it happens.

First, it’s important to distinguish between adware and ad-supported software. Ad-supported software is considered a legitimate alternative for consumers who do not wish to pay for software such as games and utilities. With ad-supported software, the ad is actually part of the software application and the user clearly understands they will be presented advertisements in exchange for free use of the software. Read more

February 23, 2009 - It’s a wild, worldwide web out there, especially for kids who aren’t always aware where their information goes. It’s important to know what steps one can take to protect their children, personal data, and computer hardware when surfing the Net.

Stories come out frequently about tweens and teens that place themselves in danger by revealing personal or sensitive information. They might accidentally tell the wrong person their name, what school they go to, their home address, or where they will be after school. They could also post that information into a public area like a social networking site where anyone could read it.

According to an April, 2007 Pew Internet & American Life Project report entitled, Teens, Privacy & Online Social Networks, “32 percent of online teenagers and 43 percent of social-networking teens have been contacted online by complete strangers; while 31 percent of social-networking teens have "friends" on their social network profile who they have not met in person.” Read more